Ahead of Israeli offensive, thousands of Palestinians leave Gaza City: ‘I can’t risk it’
Israel’s plan to seize control of Gaza City could see the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have been uprooted multiple times
Fearing an imminent Israeli ground offensive, thousands of Palestinians have left their homes in eastern areas of Gaza City, now under constant Israeli bombardment, for points to the west and south in the shattered territory.
Israel’s plan to seize control of Gaza City has stirred alarm abroad and at home where tens of thousands of Israelis on Sunday held some of the largest protests since the war began, urging a deal to end the fighting and free the remaining 50 hostages held by Palestinian militants in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
The planned offensive spurred Egyptian and Qatari ceasefire mediators to step up efforts to forge a deal between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, and a Hamas official said on Monday the group had approved the latest ceasefire proposal.
The official did not provide further details, and it was not immediately clear what they accepted. Hamas has responded positively in the past while proposing amendments unacceptable to Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described Gaza City as Hamas’ last big urban bastion. But, with Israel already holding 75 per cent of Gaza, the military has warned that expanding the offensive could endanger hostages still alive and draw troops into protracted and deadly guerrilla warfare.